They pay state, federal, and local tax on their income. The bill was introduced to lower the amount of tax the airlines had to absorb for fuel costs. If/when they can't remain competitive, the state of Georgia will suffer. It's nothing more than PR work and chest thumping. I watched the same thing with Southwest Airlines a number of years ago. Once the state recognized the economic impact losing them would have, they reversed course. Politics is the one of the biggest contributors to the destruction of our country.
And government picking the winners and losers in business via taxbreaks or other incentives is one of the single biggest political gestures out there. Government has absolutley no place doing so - but many do it anyway for kickbacks, etc.
Delta move their headquarters from Atlanta? That would cost Delta far more than $40M. Rest assured they aren't going anywhere. As far as ticket prices are concerned, Delta will be unable so substantially raise them as long as there is sufficient competition in the marketplace.
Winners: Georgia taxpayers and Americans who believe "the people" mentioned in the Second Amendment are the same "people" mentioned throughout the rest of the Bill of Rights.